Spring Breeze Twenty Years

Chapter 565 An Ordinary Police Dispatch

"We've all been neighbors in this area for a long time, we see each other all the time, we know each other well. If it's something we can let go of, we won't say a word. But Old Xu's family has really gone too far these past few days. Ask them and see if what I'm saying is true."

Xiao Liu took off his hat, scratched his head, and asked, "Auntie, can we get straight to the point? What exactly is the matter that requires calling the police?"

The older woman was a little displeased. She glared at Xiao Liu and said, "Why are you so impatient, kid? Shouldn't we explain the whole story? We're all old neighbors. If I don't get to the bottom of things, it'll make me seem like I'm being unreasonable."

Xiao Liu said, "If there's nothing else, I'll head back now. You two can chat some more. I have work to do, so I won't keep you company any longer." Helplessly, Xiao Liu said this to the group of elderly men and women, then turned around and signaled to the driver to get ready to get in the car and leave.

An old man reached out and grabbed Xiao Liu, saying, "No, no, you're already here, let's get this sorted out."

Xiao Liu turned around and asked, "What am I supposed to do, sir? You didn't say anything. We've been living here for twenty years, and his grandson can walk now. What am I supposed to do?"

The old man pulled Xiao Liu and pointed to a house on the first floor, saying, "Old Xu's family. I don't know what they were burning since midnight last night, but the smell was nauseating and gave me a headache. Ask around, it's not just me, everyone's like this. I felt so suffocated, I couldn't stand it anymore, so I called you guys over."

The people gathered around nodded in agreement. An old woman said, "It really smelled awful. I can't even describe the smell. My grandson wouldn't eat and kept vomiting."

Xiao Liu glanced at the shop the old man pointed to and asked, "Are they still there?"

An older woman said, "Yes, you can't smell the wind from the roadside anymore. Why don't you come inside our house for a while and see? We don't dare open the windows in the dead of winter. This old Xu is really a rip-off." In Northeast China, people's windows are sealed with plastic sheeting in winter.

Xiao Liu asked, "Didn't you go to his house and look for him yourselves?"

The old man said with some difficulty, "How am I supposed to find this? It's not a pleasant story."

Xiao Liu put on his hat and said to the driver, "Brother Zhao, wait in the car for a while, I'll go see what's going on." He then turned and walked towards Old Xu's house.

Passing through a row of narrow, illegally constructed red-brick houses, we arrived at Old Xu's house. It was clear from the look of it that the family wasn't well-off; the doors and windows were old and worn, and the house was dark inside. Xiao Liu knocked on the door, listened for a moment without response, then knocked a few more times with more force.

"Who is it?"

"I'll open the door, please open the door."

A few minutes later, the door opened from the inside, and a blast of hot, pungent air hit his face. Xiao Liu's stomach churned, and he almost vomited. He turned his head, took two deep breaths, and said, "How long have you been without opening the door? This room is full of a strong smell of tobacco, liquor, and roasted meat, all mixed together and churning his senses."

Old Xu wasn't actually that old, probably under fifty. He had a scruffy beard and a strong smell of lingering alcohol when he spoke.

Xiao Liu looked around the house and asked, "Are you home alone? What have you been doing in there these past few days? The neighbors are complaining about the smell."

Old Xu glanced back into the house and said, "What are you doing? Nothing much? I cooked a few pig's trotters last night. We're drinking, and we need to have some dishes for the New Year." He rubbed the sleep from his eyes, took out a pack of cigarettes from his pocket, and handed one to Xiao Liu.

Xiao Liu stepped back slightly, looking at the eye boogers still clinging to the fingers holding the cigarette, and couldn't muster the courage to take it. He said, "Can't you roast pig's trotters outside during the day? Don't you find it smelly doing it indoors in the middle of the night? Besides, you may not care, but others do. Don't you know how awful it smells?"

As he spoke, Xiao Liu looked around the room. The layout of this kind of tenement building was simple. There was a horizontal room as soon as you entered, which served as the kitchen, dining room, and living room. There was a bathroom on the side, and then there were two rooms, one large and one small. The large room had a small room inside it.

A coal stove was burning inside, and a low table was placed next to it, with plates, bowls, and bottles on it. A pair of chopsticks had fallen to the ground, and another pair was stuck in the leftover food. Three of the four small stools were overturned on the ground. There were two wine glasses, one empty and the other half full of wine.

The door was open for a moment, and a cool breeze carrying fresh air rushed in, making the room smell much fresher. Xiao Liu opened the door wider and stepped inside: "Are you home alone? Where is your family during the New Year?"

Old Xu lit a cigarette and said, "I'm going back to my hometown. I have to work shift at the factory. Besides, it's nice to be alone; it's quiet."

Xiao Liu walked over to the low table and glanced at it. There was stewed sauerkraut, sliced ​​pork hock, peanuts, and some chopped sausage. "What's the point of drinking alone? Drinking is more fun with more people." As he spoke, he looked around the room again. A small pile of coal was scattered in the corner next to the coal stove, and an old axe was lying on top of it.

Old Xu said, "I'm not a great guy, I just like to have a little something, I'm used to drinking alone. Want some?"

Xiao Liu chuckled, shook his head, and waved his hand, saying, "Don't even think about it, I can't beat you." He glanced sideways at the blazing stove, swallowed hard, and said, "Come on, let's talk outside. The smell in this room is just too strong. Aren't you afraid of getting burned if we leave the door open for a while?"

The two of them went outside with their arms around Lao Xu's shoulders. Xiao Liu was nearly 1.8 meters tall, more than half a head taller than Lao Xu.

"Look what you've done to these people. They're too embarrassed to talk to you, and now they can't sleep at night." Xiao Liu pointed to a group of elderly men and women standing by the roadside and half-pulled, half-pushed Lao Xu to the side of the road.

"Old Xu, what kind of mess have you made? Making a ruckus in the house in the middle of the night, causing suffering to everyone around here."

"My grandson has vomited several times since last night, let me tell you. If anything happens to my grandson, Old Xu, I'll scratch you to death."

"I'm done, I'm done. Hehe, we ran out of food for the drinks, so I just made a few pig's trotters. I'm sorry, I apologize to everyone." Old Xu took out cigarettes and handed them to a few old men. He then walked over to the police car, where the driver was sitting in the driver's seat looking over.

Xiao Liu said, "Alright, everyone stop crowding around. It's just a small matter, let's just chat and laugh it off." He reached out with his right hand, grabbed the driver's clothes, and pulled him off the bus, his eyes fixed on Old Xu, who was smoking.

Old Xu was offering cigarettes with his back to the jeep, while Xiao Liu stood to the side and behind him. The driver was sitting in the driver's seat with the door half open.

The driver, a seasoned policeman, got out of the car without making a sound. Xiao Liu swallowed hard and said, "Old Xu, give me one." He leaned in, unaware that his voice was trembling.

Old Xu turned his head and looked over. Little Liu punched Old Xu in the face and shouted, "Brother Zhao, arrest him!"

Old Zhao reacted very quickly. Just as Xiao Liu's fist hit Old Xu's face, Old Zhao pounced on him.

(End of this chapter)